It was to be set in the Fallout world, an alternate universe based on 50s sci-fi pulp fiction, as if the world had stopped in the optimistic 50s and found itself on a dystopian post-apocalyptic reality.

However, at the end of 2011, Interplay dropped its claim to the Fallout MMO. All work completed on this project was abandoned in favor of a new direction

The game was officially announced as Fallout Online on June 15, 2010. Before that, Project V13 was Interplay's codename for the project. This article will continue to use the development name - Project V13.

Interplay opened a new studio in Irvine, Orange County, California, dedicated to the development of the game. Jason Anderson and Chris Taylor, two of the makers of Fallout, were re-hired by Interplay and were in charge of the company's new design team. While Taylor is still working on the project, in March 2009 Anderson left Interplay for InXile Entertainment, to work on Wasteland 2.

After selling many of their assets, including the Fallout franchise, Interplay seems to have risen from the dead again. Projects that Interplay has said it wants to develop are sequels to Earthworm Jim, Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance, Descent, and MDK, among others, provided it can find the financing[2].

Yes, Bethesda Softworks owns the Fallout franchise now. In April 2007, SEC filings were made showing the purchase of the entire Fallout IP to Fallout 3 developer Bethesda Softworks for $5.75 million USD.

While Bethesda now owns the rights to the Fallout MMO IP, clauses in the purchase agreement allowed Interplay to license the rights to the development of the MMO.

However, in 2009 Bethesda terminated this license stating that that Interplay failed to meet the terms of the agreement and therefore the license expired. Interplay disputed these claims, but at the end of 2011 surrendered these rights in a settlement for 2 million.

The project, while remaining on Interplay's coming soon list for most of a year, was confirmed to have been abandoned in favor of a "new direction" (with little, if any connection to the original project) in December 2012.

It is not known if Bethesda/Zenimax online are planning a Fallout MMO. Bethesda does have a sister company specializing in MMO's called "Zenimax Online", however their only known current project is The Elder Scrolls Online, due for release in 2013. It is possible, but not confirmed, a Fallout game could follow.

Project V13 (PV13) is the first planned Black Isle Studios release in years, a post-apocalyptic strategy RPG. You will create a character to represent yourself within the game world. Your character will be a hardy adventurer from a variety of backgrounds; one of the last remaining humans, a new breed mutant, or a technologically advanced cyborg. The choice is yours.

Once you have determined your character's background, you will found your "colony". From a deserted city, a broken down military base, or even the ruins of an oil pumping station, the colony will be yours to rebuild and control. Attract non-player characters for guards, peons, scientists, and other activities. Or, if you are the type that so desires, shanghai the NPCs. Put them to work rebuilding your society and improving your colony.

Meanwhile, you will experience grand adventures to gather the resources and ancient technologies as well as fight back the enemy hordes. Your character will gain experience, advance skills, learn new talents and gain access to incredibly powerful equipment. Or die trying.

Explore the world, meet friends, and fight your neighbors for control of resources. PV13 will be your chance to rebuild a devastated world.

When the game was announced, Interplay also launched a crowdsource campaign to raise funds to produce a prototype to help encourage further investment For their efforts, contributors were offered access to a proposed contributor only forum.